Rory McIlroy just walked away from Augusta with a Green Jacket and a $4.2 million payday, finally clinching the Masters to complete his career Grand Slam. But while the Northern Irishman ruled the greens, he’s not exactly topping the leaderboard in a different kind of game- social media earnings.
On Instagram, where followers turn into dollars, golf influencers Paige Spiranac and Grace Charis are leaving McIlroy in the dust. Despite his 3.2 million followers and a solid $8,647 per post, according to RotoGrinders.com, Rory trails behind the new queens of golf content. Both Spiranac and Charis rake in more per post without hitting a single tournament.
Paige Spiranac may have stepped away from professional golf but didn’t leave the limelight. With 4 million Instagram followers- more than any other golfer, including Tiger Woods- Spiranac has turned her mix of trick shots and glamorous photos into a lucrative brand. She now earns an estimated $10,698 per post, beating McIlroy by over $2,000 and tripling Justin Rose’s rate.
Grace Charis, a relative newcomer, has quickly matched Spiranac’s online impact. Without a background in competitive golf, Charis carved out her own lane, attracting nearly 4 million followers. Her content echoes Spiranac’s style, and it’s working- she now earns around $10,000 per post, outpacing both McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau, who brings in about $7,080.
While McIlroy’s success on the course is undeniable, social media operates by its own rules. It rewards engagement, personality, and consistent content. That’s where influencers like Spiranac and Charis thrive. Their posts generate broad reach and loyal followings, translating into higher earning potential than many top-ranked players.
According to the same RotoGrinders.com data, the average professional golfer earns about $3,056 per post, while golf influencers average $4,280. Even top players like Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele fall behind, with estimated rates of $3,707 and $2,002, respectively.
What started as a niche content space became a booming digital market. Influencers like Spiranac and Charis are redefining how golf is consumed and proving that social currency can sometimes pay better than trophies.
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